Football: Lampard ends speculation by signing...book deal

Football: Lampard ends speculation by signing...book deal

England international midfielder Frank Lampard is set to put pen to paper but, before Chelsea fans sigh with relief, it is to write five children's books, it was announced on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old -- whose current deal expires in the summer and who has not been offered a new one -- said that he first got the idea when he was reading stories to his children.

The stories will follow the adventures of a school boy, Frankie, his football-loving friends, and pet dog Max.

Lampard said the stories were "loosely based on friends and team mates".

"I first had the idea of Frankie and his Magic Football when reading stories to my own children," he said in a statement.

"Sport and reading are two essentials for us at home, so I decided to make up my own football stories and adventures."

Lampard, who is considered one of the most intelligent footballers around and is believed to have an IQ of 150 -- placing him in the top 0.1% in Great Britain -- will publish his first book, Frankie Versus The Pirate Pillagers, in June, followed by two more this year and another two in 2014.